Woman who disappeared after calling cops to report lone child found alive
A woman who vanished shortly after calling the police to report a toddler walking along the side of the highway on their own has been found alive.
Carlethia 'Carlee' Nichole Russell made the call to 911 at 9.34pm on Thursday, July 13. She told dispatchers she had seen a toddler walking down the side of I-459 South near mile marker 11 in Hoover, Alabama.
Carlethia stopped to check on the child, then called a family member, later revealed to be her brother's girlfriend. Carlethia told the girlfriend what had happened, and could be heard on the phone asking if the child was OK before a chilling scream was heard.
It prompted friends and family to prepare for the worst, especially after police saw her car at the scene with her belongings nearby. But now, Carlethia has been found alive two days after vanishing.
Carlethia was taken to hospital as a precaution after returning home (Hoover (AL) Police Department)On July 15, law enforcement received a phone call that Carlethia had returned to the home she shared with her parents. Police Chief Nicholas Derzis said he's not sure how she got there, but she was on her own when she returned home.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Police confirmed it was Carlethia and checked her over before taking her to hospital as a precaution. No more information has been released apart from the fact one person familiar with the situation said she'd been "dropped off" at home, according to local outlet WBRC.
In a statement, police said: "Additional information will be provided when it becomes available."
It comes after police were sent to the Red Roof Inn in Vestavia Hills after family members gathered at the motel, claiming they had received a call that Carlethia was there.
The mystery began after Carlethia left The Woodhouse Spa at the Summit, where she worked part time. On her way home, she stopped by Taziki's at the Colonnade at 9pm to pick up food for herself and her mum.
Her family said they were staying positive and trusting God their daughter would be brought home safely (WBRC)Following that, she made the 911 call regarding the missing child. Officers arrived at the scene within minutes of receiving the report, where they found Carlethia's Mercedes still running but with nobody inside.
Despite extensive searches, police were unable to find either Carlethia or a child in the area. Hoover police also said they had not received any other reports of someone missing a small child.
Just two minutes after the 911 call, Carlethia was on the phone with her brother's girlfriend, according to her mum Talitha Russell. She said: "She probably let her guard down thinking 911 would be there in a second."
Carlethia was heard asking the child if they were alright, though the child was never heard saying anything. Then: "She heard our daughter scream", said Talitha.
Following that, the call continued but no more was heard from Carlethia, just the sounds of the interstate. It's unclear what happened in the two days since she vanished, but relatives are relieved she has returned home safely.
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